Top 10 Live Streaming APIs & SDKs for Mobile and Web Apps

Live streaming APIs are essential for social media platforms to enable users to broadcast live videos. These APIs allow businesses to establish real-time interaction with their audience. So, if you are looking to integrate this live-streaming functionality into your app, use the free live-streaming platforms explained below. In this article, we have curated a list of the top 10 live video streaming APIs for your mobile and web apps.

10 Best Live Stream APIs to Build Mobile and Web Apps

With the help of live-streaming APIs and SDKs, developers can have a comprehensive toolkit or resources to add to their app. You can utilize these platforms to create a custom live-streaming video feature within your web and mobile application. Now, let’s look at the list of the top 10 streaming API and SDK providers.

1. ZEGOCLOUD

ZEGOCLOUD provides you with easy-to-use live streaming APIs and SDKs to create interactive live-streaming apps. There are endless possibilities when it comes to adding live-streaming features with this platform. In addition to that, you can have live stream forwarding, real-time messaging, file-sharing options, and others.

Developers can easily integrate these streaming features by using this live stream API and go live within 30 minutes with live streaming kit. Furthermore, you can have an interactive live-streaming session with your audience through messaging and virtual gifts.

Moreover, this platform ensures an excellent live-stream experience with a latency of 600ms and seamless synchronization. It also supports various streaming protocols and formats, such as RTMP, FLV, HLS, and more.

Key Features

• Live streamers can show off their channel with a logo or brand image using ZEGOCLOUD’s watermark branding feature.
• Gamers can use the screen-sharing feature to share their whole screen or selected applications with their audience for an interactive playthrough.
• Other than that, this live video streaming medium automatically records your streaming and lets you forward it to various social media platforms.
• Now, live streamers can hide their facial imperfections with the face beautification feature with a face retouching option. 
• With the quality monitoring feature, you can ensure your live-stream quality and smooth transition. 

Pricing Plans

2. MUX

MUX provides you with a straightforward onboarding API experience that you can utilize to build a live-streaming mobile and web app. Moreover, it does not matter if you have one or a dozen streaming channels; this tool has no scaling limit and can handle all your viewers. Its live simulcasting feature makes it easy to stream on Facebook, YouTube, etc. You can securely playback your live stream content with its token-based security.

Key Features

• Provides RTMP to stream on various broadcast software.
• Offers seamless VOD with no additional complex workflow.
• Integrated CDN allows for a global streaming experience.

Pricing Plans

• Encoding Plan: $0.032 per min
• Storage Plan: $0.0024 per min
• Streaming Plan: $0.00096 per min

3. Agora

You can now get real-time interaction via video, voice, and chat with Agora’s free live-streaming platform. Furthermore, this low-latency video streaming API enables you to communicate with a larger audience. It lets you add text messaging, virtual gifts, emojis, and more to your live-streaming app. Also, to make your streaming experience better, this live stream API provides you with several extensions.

Key Features

• Includes channel switching and rendering features for a better video experience.
• Provide dual video live stream feature to serve a larger audience.
• Offer automated AI-powered audio enhancement for echo cancellation.

Pricing Plans

4. Cometchat

If you want to engage with your audience in a real-time messaging session on your live stream, Cometchat is your best bet. With this platform, you can run smooth and stress-free social events. Moreover, you can enjoy a safe and appropriate live-streaming experience with features like in-flight message moderation, profanity filters, and more. You can stream and connect with people across all six continents as it provides you with 30+ language translations.

Key Features

• Offers scalability for a smooth streaming experience.
• Create interactive live streaming with live polls and Q&A sessions.
• Allow multimedia sharing to improve live-stream discussion.

Pricing Plans

• Essential Plan: $109 per month
• Pro Plan: $529 per month

5. API.video

API.video is a live streaming platform that provides customizable products to add to your mobile and web app in minutes. It simplifies the streaming process with its flexible and reliable live-stream API. Furthermore, you can get 5 different tools in one place necessary for streaming from player to analytics. Other than that, developers can create a splendid live-stream app on Android and iOS devices.

Key Features

• Support third-party platforms to broadcast live-stream.
• Has a DVR feature to rewind live stream feed.
• CDN features 100+ servers for multinational audiences.

Pricing Plans

• Video Hosting Plan: $0.00285 per minute of video stored
• Video Delivery Plan: $0.0017 per minute of video delivered

6. Wowza

Wowza is an all-in-one live video-streaming API that offers various options, including live video, VOD, audio, and more. You can build and record live streams with the Wowza CMS and SDK. Additionally, this platform helps you track the analytics of your streams, such as health, viewership data, and behavior. Also, Wowza Streaming Engine can deploy video anywhere, simulcast to a wide range of platforms, and work with video CDN and AI algorithms.

Key Features

• API interface control and customize streaming infrastructure.
• It helps create fast live streams with a local caching feature.
• Supports live events for professionals with larger audiences.

Pricing Plans

• One Month of Streaming: $149
• Pay As You Go: $25 per month

7. Sendbird

One of the leading live-streaming APIs is provided by Sendbird, which lets you build engaging streaming web and mobile apps. This live stream API/SDK can help you host private and custom-built live video events on your web and mobile apps. Moreover, you can create a scalable streaming service according to your needs. Streamers can broadcast from their camera, smartphones, and PCs and interact with them with various messaging features.

Key Features

• Provide call and chat features for private real-time interactions.
• Equipped sub-second latency WebRTC technology for the audience to react.
• Integrated reporting dashboard provides livestream analytics.

Pricing Plans

• Audio: $0.0015 per minute per user
• Audio & Video: $0.0037 per minute per user

8. 100ms

With the 100ms live streaming API/SDK, you can create, host, live, and record live videos like Instagram. More than that, you can invite new guests, share your screen, add a virtual background, and many more. You don’t need to worry about live stream lags and glitches with its professional-grade streaming quality. Furthermore, you can use its storage options to repurpose your video content anytime you want.

Key Features

• Provide customizable branding elements for interactive streaming.
• Can build large-scale live shops for influencers and buyers to provide real-time experience.
• Asset sharing media to improve user collaboration.

Pricing Plans

• Schedule a Demo

9. VPlayed

Are you in need of a powerful live video streaming platform that can help you build your streaming platform? With VPlayed, you can have a 100% customizable platform and suit the platform according to your needs. You can also boost audience engagement with streaming protocols such as HLS, MPEG-DASH, H.264, and H.265. Furthermore, this platform reduces loading time and provides smoother playback with its global CDN and RTMP protocol.

Key Features

• Built-in live notifications update the audience for upcoming events.
• Support HLS & dash adaptive streaming for smooth playback.
• Uphold multiple DRM to prevent piracy.

Pricing Plans

• Request Demo

10. VideoSDK

VideoSDK live streaming SDK allows developers to build streaming apps on their web, iOS, and Android devices. In addition to that, it enhances your streaming quality and experience. You can also record the video and audio or your live streams separately. Also, there are various customizable options to change the background and layout of your streams.

Key Features

• Optimized global mesh network with over 100K people.
• Provide stream RTMP to go live on 20+ simultaneous platforms.
• Support orientation-based adaptive live stream for smooth playback.

Pricing Plans

• Livestream (Speaker): $0.003 per speaker minute
• Livestream (Viewer): $0.0015 per viewer minute
• Encoding: $0.04 per encoded minute

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have discussed several live-streaming APIs and SDKs to help you integrate live-stream features into your apps. However, when it comes to picking the best, choose the one that suits your business needs and offers easy integration. Don’t worry about anything because all these platforms ensure streamers get the most effective communication and non-interruptive streaming.

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